Thursday, February 25, 2010

Being the flaming liberal that I am, there are many reasons why I'm glad I don't live in Utah. And after this recent news, I hope women begin to flee the state in droves.

Utah has voted to criminalize miscarriages. Yes, you heard read me. Because a tragic end to a wanted pregnancy is not enough. Apparently, women who miscarry will now be subject to criminal prosecution.

The law:

* expands the definition of illegal (non-medically induced) abortion to include miscarriages

* removes immunity protections for women who have or seek illegal abortions

* assumes women are “guilty of criminal homicide of an unborn child” if a pregnancy ends after “intentional, knowing, or reckless” behavior.

Apparently, the law (which still needs the governor's signature) was created to punish women who undergo illegal abortions--in which a woman deliberately subjects herself to violence and whatnot to cause a miscarriage. Because the law is vaguely written, 'intentional, knowing, and reckless behavior' can pretty much mean anything as long as a prosecutor can reasonably define it. So this means that if a pregnant woman in an abusive relationship miscarries because her partner beat her up, the woman is now guilty of criminal homicide. If you're pregnant, forget to wear a seat belt, get into a car crash thereby causing a miscarriage, you're a murderer.

Nevermind the fact that 15-20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. I'm sure state prosecutors will find a way to bring charges against those women too.

Fortunately, the ACLU is on this. But just the fact that this issue is up for debate in a state legislature is demeaning to women. Seriously, how soon will The Handmaid's Tale become a non-fiction book?